Improvement in machines for cutting veneers



PatehtedApri|14,1874.

W. ELLIS.v

vMachines for Cuttihg Veneers.L

/Wv im' rrrcn WILLIAM ELLIS, OF SOUTH LAMBETH, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING VENEERS.

Specification forming part ofLetters Patent N0. l49,732,`dated April 14, 1874; application filedl I March 25, 1873.

l represents a, front elevation of the improved l machine; and Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section thereof through about the line A B, Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow l.

3. a represents the lower part or framing of the machine, above which is bolted, or otherwise secured, oblique standards and slides b c.

4. The timber, d, to be cnt (when raised into and fixed in position, Fig. 2, as hereinafter 4 described) is had by Centers e, fixed in nl@ ia 11er ends of twin shafts f, placed at opposite sides or ends of the machine, and each having one bearing in one ofthe standards b, and the other in one of two end bearings, g.

5. The shafts f are equally rotated by wheels h gearing into mortised `pinions c' on an under shaft, j, which runs from end to end of the machine, and receives motion from the primary shaft 7c, on which are placed a fast and a loose pulley, lm, by means of a pinion, a, and wheel o.

6. p represents the front or driving shaft of the machine, which receives its motion from the shaft lc by means of gage-wheels q, two of which-namely, those on the shafts k and p can be altered at pleasure, (the others being held in arms ofa bracket, gx, which is slotted, and capable of moving upward, downward, or sidewise, so as to accommodate the varioussized wheels which may be placed on 7c or 29,) so as to regulate the speed of the latter shaft, as` required. The positions of the wheels q, shaft lc, pinion n, and wheel o are dotted in Fig. 2;

7. On the shaft p are two worms, r, (placed immediately in front of therslides 0,) gearing into two wheels, s, which, by means of worms t, keyed thereto, Fig. 2, work a veneer-knife carrier, a, down the slides c, together with a broad plate veneer-knife, o, causing the same to approach (sidewise) theV timber, 1,to be out (and to cut off the outer part of the same in a slice, or as a veneer, as the wood is being rotated, as hereafter described) at a certain definite rate.` v

8. The knife o is set in its carrier in a line with the standards b, so`that the wood or timber is prevented from springing from the said knife when it is being cut near the center, and

consequently the knifewill act and cut as solidly with the latter portion as at the coinmencement with the full timber.

9. But to insure that the heel and toe of the cutting-edge of the knife c shall be kept constantly at a uniform angle to theY circumference of the block, d, being operated upon by it, so that, as the latter is being constantly reduced in diameter by the action of the said knife upon it, the wood shall not be shattered when being cut near the center of the block, but severed therefrom in a continuous and even sheet, I key onthe shaft p two other worms, w, gearing into worm wheels do, which, by means of worms y, keyed thereto and passing through swivel worm-boxes al in projecting brackets b1 at the under part of the carrier a, (centered at im) cause that part to receive a slightly quicker motion than the part which receives the descending motion from the worms t, as above described, so that the knife fv-constantly alters its position, so as to effect the object desired.

10. On the shaft p is also a miter or bevel wheel, c1, which, by means of other bevel wheels, d1' c1 (on an inclined shaft, f1, supported bybrackets j'X projecting from b and 0,) and g1, rotate a top shaft, h1, on which the latter is, and the bearingsof which are carried in brackets lo", projecting from the back of the standards b.

11. On the shaft h1 are two worms, il," Fig. 2, (immediately above the standards b, and similar insize and distance apart to the worms 1,) gearing into two wheels, jl, (similar in sizeand distance apart to the wheels 8,) which, by means of worms k1, (similar to the worms 15,) actuate Vslides or square riiied flanged blocks l1, and cause them to descend in the standards b, and

. to carry therewith a hollow longitudinal dovetailed sectional divider, m1, (of octagonal, hexagonal, or other geometrical iigure,) which revolves by contact with thc timber to be cut,

and is provided with movable cutting, embossing, impressing, perforating, or other sections al, which are thus caused to approach the wood from above, (at the same time and rate, as the knife c is caused, by the means described, to advance sidewise,) and to cut it longitudinally asit is being rotated.

12. In Fi g. 5 (detached view on an enlarged scale) sections of some of the different sections al, which may be made to any pattern required for building or other purposes, are shown. Each section is placed in a doveta-iled groove, m", in the divider fm1, and is held fast therein by having a projection at one end pushed into alole, o1, in one of the end plates ofthe divi er.

13. When it is only desired to emboss the wood immediately before it is veneered by the knife c, the divider m1 is removed fromthe blocks l1, and replaced by an embossing-roller, o". (See Fig. 3.) y

14. A hollow socket, p1, extends below and is bolted to a front plate, q1, which is supported by brackets g3, and carries the shaft p and its bearings p",- and inthis socket rotates a short vertical shaft, r1, on which are fixed two bevelwheels, s1 t1, the former of which gears into and receives motion from the wheel c1 on the' shaft p.

15. A transverse shaft, al, runs below and at right angles to the shaft r1 the whole width of the machine, and on this are fixed two other bevelwl1eels,el w', Fig. 2, the former of which gears into and receives motion from the wheel tl on the shaft r1.

16. At right angles to the shafts u1 and r1 extends a longitudinal shaft, s, which runs in a direction parallel to the shaft j; and on this shaft, in gear with and receiving motion from the wheel w', is fixed a bevel-wheel, x', Figs. 1 and 2.l 1

17. On the shaft s are placed two worms, y', similar in size to the worms 1' and il, gearing into two wheels, z', similar in size to the wheels s, w, and jl, fixed on vertical shafts a2, the upper part of each of which is formed into a worm, b2, similar to the worms t, y, and k1, which actuate slides c2, working vertically in the inner sides of the standards b, and carrying a longitudinal slotted shaft, d2, on which are secured circular knives e2, which can be set to any width of cut or distance apart.

18. By these means the shaft d2, with its series of knives e2, which are rotated by contact with the timber to be cut, is caused to approach the wood upward, and cut the wood transversely as it is being rotated, at the same time and rate as the longitudinal dividers al and the knife c are caused to approach the same downward and sidewise, respectively;

19. In order to lift the block of wood to its proper position to be acted upon by the series of knives and sections, and so that the centers can be readily and accurately run in to fix the block in position, as hereinafter described, I remove the shaft d2, with its dividers e2, from its slide-blocks c2, and place in the latter cupshaped receptacles or elevators f2, (see detached view, Fig. 3,) into which, when lowered, the block d can be easily rolled, and then cause the ascent of the blocks c2, receptacles f2, and block d by means of the wheels c1 and w' on shaft u1, and wheel w and worms y on shaft s,

yand wormwheels z and worms b2 on shafts a2- but, instead of actuating these means from the shaft p by the wheels s1 and t1 on the shaft r1, (as is done when causing the ascent of the said blocks c2 and shaft d2, when carrying the knives e2 and acting on the wood,) I disconnect the wheels t1 and c1 by means of a clutch-lever, g2,

and actuate them from an independent shaft,

71,2, supported in bearings h1", and bevel-wheels i2 and j, placed in front of the machine, and operated by a belt and pulley, Z2; and after it is thus lifted, I run the centers e in, as hereinafter described, and so fix the block, and then reverse the motion ofthe pulley Z2 in a similar manner, as described hereafter in respect to the pulley t2, cause the descent of the blocks c2 and receptacles f2, and remove them from the blocks and replace the shaft d2, and disconnect the wheels i2 and j by means of a clutch-lever, m2, and again connect the wheels ci and t1 by the lever gz, and run the shaft d2 and knives e2 up to the block d, when the apparatus will be in readiness to commence acting upon the block.

2o. when the block has been lifted into p i siticn by such means, the centers e are readily and accurately run in, so as to fix it in posin tion, in the following manner:

21. I make the bearings g at each end of the machine very solid and compact, so as to be capable of withstanding with ease a considerable lateral thrust, and provide worms a2, which work in the bea-rin gs g, and provide one of the worms with a manual or ,hand wheel, o2, and the other with a toothed wheel, p2, which gears into a pinion, q2, on an independent shaft, r2, supported in brackets s2, bolted or otherwise secured to the foundation or floor.

22. Upon the shaft r2 I also place three pulleys, t2, the outer ones of which run loose, while the middle one is fast.

23. Upon one of the outer pulleys works a straight band, u2, and upon the other a crossed band,"v2, so that the in or out motion of the twin shaft f at this end ofthe machine depends upon which of the bands is placed upon the fast pulley. If the straight one is, the shaft f is caused to run in and fix the centers e in the wood; but if the crossed band is, the shaft is l caused to run out, or vice versa.

24. The twin shaft f at the other or driving end of the machine and its center e are stationary, so that the block d is thrust thereon and centered at both ends at once. It is, however, capable of being actuated by its hand wheel o2 in case a block of short length should be placed in the machine, so as to run its cen ter up to position.

25. The thickness of the veneer is gaged by a rest-bar, b3, secured to sliding holding-pieces c3 by small nuts d, and regulated by handscrews e3, which allows the knife to cut the veneer to the required thickness only.

26. In order to prevent any hard pieces of wood or any obstruction choking between the knife u and the bar 113, and to allow them to passLI place at the rear of the bar b3 two or more springs, f3, so that it is enabled to give slightly andallow any such obstructions to pass; and, in additionI'provide two or more pressure-rollers, g3, tting in slots in the rear of the bar b3, to diminish the friction on the cut wood as it emerges from the machine, and to receive the pressure, so that the pattern on. the wood is eectually preserved.

27. When the machine is employed for cutting laths I cause the latter to fall into two or more receivers, h3, fitted to the front of the carrier u, the contour of which they follow, and, on' turning round and over the same, are completely separated, when they fall onto an endless traveling belt, i3, and are carried away hereby to any place for securing them in bunles.

28. The action of the machine is as follows: Motion being given to the primary shaft 7c by the pulley l, is communicated,by the pinion u and wheel o, to the shaft j, which rotates the pinions t', and these, byv means of the wheels h, impart the motionto the twin shafts f. The wood d, being fixed between the centers e, consequently receives the motion from the shafts f, and is caused to rotate, and is first cut transversely by the knives e?, and then receives longitudinal cuts, holes, impressions, or designs fromvthe sections al of the top or longitudinal divider mi, andis, lastly, cut as a veneerby the knife fv, and passes thence over the carrier a, and into a space or hole, j?, infront of the machine, and is there collected or carried away.

\ by the belt i?, as required.

29. The motion is also communicated bythe wheels q, from the shaft k, to the shaft p, and thence, by means of the worms r and fw, wheels s and and worms t and y, to the carrier u Y and knife fu. y

30. And is furthercommunicated from the shaft p, by the wheels c1 .s1 t1 c1 w x and worms y', on their respective shafts, and wheels z', and worms b2, tothe slides c2, shaft (Z2, and

knives c2, and also, by the wheels l1 e1 g1 and worms il on their respective shafts, wheels jl,

and worms k1, to the blocks Z1 andk divider m1, so that, (as the shafts p, s1, and h1 are thus all rotated at an equal 'speed,) while the 'wood is being rotated, as above described, the transverse dividers, ,the longitudinal dividers or embossing-roller, and the veneer-knife are caused to approach the continually-decreasing circumference of the wood,'all at the same time and rate, and in exact proportion as the wood is being diminished by them, by the means above described and immediately above referred to, until it is entirely cut up into the articles required, after which the machine is brought back to its original position, before starting on a fresh block, by means of a fast reversing-pulley, 7c3, on the shaft p.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a veneer or lath cutter, of the shafts for retaining and rotating the log, and the cutters 0, m1, and c2, which are simultaneously fed toward the center of the log by devices substantially as described.

2. The combination of the shafts ff, the cutter m1, and shafts, screws, worms, and gear herein described, for operating the said cutter.

3. The combination of the shafts ff, elevat-` ingscrews, blocks o2, and elevators f2, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. 'Ihe rotating shafts ff, rendered longitudinally adjustable, as specified.

5. The combination of the knife o, feedingscrews t, and regulating-screw y, as set forth.

6. The combination of the knife o, carrier u, recesses h3, and traversing bands js, as and for the purpose set forth. v

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVM. ELLIS.

Witnesses: l

BRIsrow HUNT,

Solicitor md Patent Agent, 5 Serle Street, London.

GHAs. AUBREY DAY,

Draftsman, 14 High Street,

Stepney, London, E. 

